Chris Hipkins has surprised even some of his closest friends and backers with the bounce he has secured for Labour in public polls since he became Prime Minister. He has been put to the test since he took over from Jacinda Ardern in the top job, and has shown a quality that was well hidden in his previous portfolios.
It’s not just the long hours he is putting into the job, but projecting the human touch to those hard hit by Cyclone Gabrielle, or the other disasters of recent weeks as well. Then this week he was steering the government in decisions which, as he said, will enable pensioners to start seeing a bit extra in their bank accounts from next month.
For couples over 65, their superannuation payments will now be higher by an extra $102.84 per fortnight between them, while single people living alone will receive an extra $66.86 each payment.
Hipkins said the package of “bread and butter support” would help people who were “really feeling the bite from the rise in the cost of living”. Continue reading “Hipkins shows his quality as PM in securing a bounce for Labour, but now comes the hard part”